Volunteers spread out hot tortillas for use in sausage and egg tacos during the 35th annual Cowboy Breakfast Friday at Cowboys Dance Hall outside Windcrest.

Volunteers spread out hot tortillas for use in sausage and egg tacos during the 35th annual Cowboy Breakfast Friday at Cowboys Dance Hall outside Windcrest.

Photo: Jeff B. Flinn / NE Herald

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Brandeis High Schools seniors (from left) Catherine Alvarado, Marcella Davis and Chandler Swain enjoy their first-ever trip to a Cowboy Breakfast. The trio were among an estimated 55,000 who flocked to Cowboys Dance Hall for free tacos, coffee, music and fun.

Brandeis High Schools seniors (from left) Catherine Alvarado, Marcella Davis and Chandler Swain enjoy their first-ever trip to a Cowboy Breakfast. The trio were among an estimated 55,000 who flocked to Cowboys

The breakfast, held at Cowboys Dance Hall near Windcrest, is the annual kick-off for the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, which runs Feb. 7-24 at the AT&T Center.

Co-workers Felicia Luna and Tara Griffin made it out early. “I got up at 4 (a.m.), because it takes me an hour to get ready,” Luna said. “We wanted to beat the lines,” Griffin said, “and find a good place to park. I've never been here before; I've lived here since 1990, but this is my first time, ever.”

Luna and Griffin said they alerted their co-workers at Innovative Clinical Trials that they may be late into work Friday, but Luna made sure her purse was packed with tacos and sausage wraps to share with the others.

Ralph and Sonia Morales are die-hard regulars to both the breakfast and the rodeo.

“The rodeo is awesome; this is a great kick-off,” Ralph Morales said. “And of course, the beautiful weather. This is like the first time we've had great weather.”

With Sonia enjoying a sausage wrap, Ralph said they were “on our third taco, and we've only being about 30 minutes. We know our way around here, we've been here so many times.”

Kirby residents James Walker, Diana Kitchen and 12-year-old Christopher Kitchen were in line for a radio station promotion when the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo dignitaries began the cow-chip toss contest at center stage.

“We came for the free breakfast tacos,” James Walker said. “I've had a sausage wrap, a potato and egg, and a cup of coffee so far.”

Diana said their attendance today was totally spontaneous. “Like I told my son this morning, let's get our blood flowing, let's go check out the cowboy breakfast. He's never been here, so I said, 'Let's go do it.'”

The first time Diana attended, she staffed a blood drive. “So we're just enjoying it this morning, making new friends and just having fun.”

Christopher, a Kirby Middle School student, said he'd never seen so many people in one place, at one time. But he said he made the most of his trip into the food lines. “I've had a sausage wrap. Three of them. I may get more,” he added.

“I like the entertainment, the music and the people, just all the activities going on. And of course, the tacos and the coffee.” Gerald Lopez said.

“We're really enjoying the morning,” Susan Lopez said. “I've heard this is the best weather the breakfast has ever had. Originally, I was kind of debating, 'Do we want to go,' but I am glad we made it out here.

“I told my husband, sure it's free tacos, but the lines are long, so we're just enjoying the music and walking around,” she added.